Apparatus for closing hosiery toes and everting hosiery and method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for turning socks wherein open-toe socks are everted to wrong side out condition and impaled upon points of a rotary dial for the formation of a toe closure. Means are provided to evert the toe-closed socks to their original right side out condition after the toe-closing operation.

United States Patent Dalton O. Hulin Lexington, N.C.

July 30, 1969 May 11, 1971 Silver Knit Hosiery Mills, Inc. High Point, N.C.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee APPARATUS FOR CLOSING HOSIERY TOES AND EVERTING HOSIERY AND METHOD 1 1 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 112/25, 112/121.15,223/43 Int. Cl D05b 7/00, A4lh 43/00 Field of Search 112/25- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,240 8/1960 Burd et al. 1 12/25 3,327,664 6/1967 Bryan et 112/262 3,351,033 11/1967 Kienel 1l2/121.15 3,420,196 l/ 1969 Edwards et al. 223/ l 12X 3,452,691 7/ 1969 Ditrich 112/121.15 3,478,940 1 l/ 1969 Sredl 223/43 3,486,471 12/1969 De Spain 1l2/121.15

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-G. V. Larkin Att0rneyDavid Rabin ABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for turning socks wherein open-toe socks are everted to wrong side out condition and impaled upon points of a rotary dial for the formation of a toe closure. Means are provided to evert the toe-closed socks to their original right side out condition after the toeclosing operation.

PATENIED MAH 1 Ian -FlG.3b FlG.c

5 FlG.3d

46 INVENTOR. 44 DALTON o. HULIN BY attorney gnaw FIG.3

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING HOSIERY TOES AND EVERTING HOSIERY AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for automatically turning or evening hosiery, both before and after the end or toe portion thereof has been closed. Seamless or circular knit socks are generally discharged from the knitting machine in a right side out condition. They thereupon have to be turned wrong side out to close the toe portion and, therefore, have to be evened or turned again to expose the right side of the fabric for subsequent operations, such as boarding and packaging, to be performed on the socks. Previously the turning of hosiery has been accomplished in three separate operations: (a) the operators attending the knitting machines manually turn the hosiery from a right side out to a wrong side out condition upon completion of the knitting operation, (b) the toes of the hosiery are closed in a subsequent operation either by looping or sewing, and (c) the hosiery is then manually or automatically turned to a right side out condition in a separate operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for turning or everting hosiery and is used in conjunction with a radial looping machine on which socks are impaled on radially projecting points adjacent the open-toe portion thereof, and subsequently a sewing head projects a needle to sew closed the open-toe portion impaled on the projecting points.

Suitable means are provided for supporting a series of tubular forms below the rotary needle dial for coincident rotation with the dial. Pneumatic means cooperate with the rotary forms to turn the hose from a right side out to a wrong side out condition before the toes of the hose are closed, and for subsequently inverting and removing from the machine hose after the toe portions have been sewn.

One of the primary objectives of the invention is the provision of a machine and process for everting, toe closing, and again everting hosiery to its original condition.

Still another object of the invention is to increase production, reduce cost, and conserve space by performing all hosiery turning and toe closing operations at the same location.

Another object of the invention is to provide hosiery handling and sewing apparatus, for automatically stripping and everting the hose after they have been toe closed, which is easy to operate, requires little maintenance, and is reliable in service.

Another feature of the invention is to speed production by freeing operators of the task of turning hosiery by separate operations, and permitting the operator to devote full time to placing hosiery on sock-receiving forms that are mounted on a rotatable platform revolvable with the dial of a looping machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism associated with a radial looping device for evening a hose or sock before the open-toe end has been closed.

A still further feature of the inventionis to provide novel means cooperatively arranged with a radial looping device for everting and discharging looped or toe-closed hosiery to a collection receptacle.

More particular objects and advantages will appear from the explanation of the invention in this specification and the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I illustrates a side view of a sock-looping machine having a preferred embodiment of this invention with the novel hosiery-receiving forms and hosiery-everting mechanisms mounted thereon:

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of FIG. 1, with certain parts removed and, looking down upon the needle dial, sewing heads and hosiery-receiving forms;

FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g are schematic views illustrating various sequential or operational steps performed upon a hose or sock from the time it is placed initially upon the machine until it is discharged therefrom.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The radial looping machine I0 herein illustrated for convenience of exemplifying the invention is of a well-known conventional type having a rotary dial 12 with spaced points or needles l4 projecting radially beyond its periphery. The dial I2 is supported for continuous rotation in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 2, for successive presentation of the points 14 to the usual toe-closure sewing heads 16. Such conventional loopers may be Sotco, Exacta, or Rosso loopers, or any other looping device that impales a hose or sock by the use of needles or points and loops across the area in which the needles impale the sock along the courses thereof to lock the wales from running. Some of the aforementioned looping devices do not necessarily require that each and every one of the wales in a given course be impaled, .but can have varying courses in different wales impaled on the dial needles, and also, some wales may not be impaled at all.

Looping yarns or threads 18 pass upwardly from yarn packages or bobbins 20, supported upon frame 22, through guides and/or tensioning means and downwardly to the looping or sewing heads 16 in a conventional manner. Two such looping or sewing headings have been provided, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

A conventional alignment device 24, composed of two parallel blades forming a slot, and a conveyor mechanism 26 feed the sock 27 onto the points 14 of dial 12. The slot of the alignment device 24 is tangential to media] 12 so that when a sock 27 is placed within the slot it is moved forward towards dial 12 until it is hooked by conveyor mechanism 26 which conveys the sock and arranges it on the points 14 of rotary dial 12. The impaled sock is then fed by dial 12 to the looping or sewing heads 16 for closure of the open-toe portion.

A rotary platform or plate 28 is spaced below and mounted for rotary movement with the dial 12. Supported by plate 28, adjacent the perimeter thereof, is a series of spaced, upstanding, hollow tubes or forms 30 for receiving the socks to be looped or closed. The tubes, of course, can be of different lengths and diameters to accommodate various sizes of socks or hose, and can be spaced at different intervals around the plate 28. However, the distance between the tubes should be constant in order to present the forms properly to the various looping or sewing heads and everting mechanisms. Openings 38 are provided in plate 28 directly below, and of substantially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the tubes, for cooperation with suitable sock-everting mechanisms.

A series of cams 32 are provided underneath the plate 28, adjacent each of the tubes 30, for actuating a microswitch 34 supported by machine frame 36. Microswitch 34 actuates a suitable valve mechanism 40 for opening such valve mechanism and permitting compressed air, supplied from a suitable remote source, to flow upwardly through line 42 to a location directly above a tube 30. A discharge tube 44 has a funneled end portion 46 mounted below and adjacent to plate 28 in alignment with the openings 38 such as to receive a sock removed from the form directly above the funnel portion 46. An air line 48 having one end connected with valve mechanism 40 extends to and is joined to discharge tube 44 for supplying compressed air thereto. With this arrangement, valve mechanism 40 is actuated by microswitch 34 and compressed air flows simultaneously through lines 42 and 48-. Compressed air exits from the open end of line 42 above a tube 30, having a sock with a closed-toe portion mounted thereon, as most clearly shown by FIGS. I and 3f. The compressed air reacts against the cIosed-toe portion thus everting the sock and blowing it through the inside of the tube 30 and into discharge tube 44. Compressed air emerging from line 48 into tube 44 assists in transferring the everted sock to a collection receptacle 50. Due to the continuous rotation of the platform or plate 28 with the carrying cams 32 actuating the microswitch 34, an instantaneous blast of compressed air removes a sock positioned on each tube 30 as the tube rotates past-the funnel portion 46 of the discharge tube.

FlG. 1 shows a conventional suction pump 52, supported by the machine frame 36, having a flared nozzle portion 58 in juxtaposition with the plate 28. The pump is actuated through foot pedal mechanism 54 by the machine operator. As a hollow sock-receiving tube 30 passes over the nozzle portion 58, an operator actuates foot pedal mechanism 54 to initiate a vacuum or suction downwardly through the tube 30. This suction arrangement assists in everting the sock, as shown by FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, from a right side out to a wrong side out condition prior to entering guide 24 and before being impaled on the points 14.

While the turning mechanisms referred to above have been illustrated as pneumatic means, it is to be understood that other types of everting mechanisms, for example, mechanical or air-operated plungers, may be employed equally well. Furthermore, a second microswitch means may be provided for automatically actuating suction pump 52, rather than utilizing the operator-controlled foot pedal mechanism 54. Additionally, photoelectric means, rather than microswitchcs and earns, may be employed for actuating the valve mechanism 40 and/or the suction pump 52.

The operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 3a3g of the drawing. With the dial 12, points 14, plate 28 and tubes 30 rotating, an operator situated near the slotted guide alignment device 24 and the foot pedal mechanism 54 receives a sock or hose in a right side out condition as it comes from a receptacle in which the sock has been deposited directly from a knitting machine. The operator actuates suction pump 52 through foot pedal mechanism 54 to provide suction within a tube 30 as it passes over a nozzle 58 and positions the socks within the tube, as shown by FIG. 3a. The suction tends to pull the sock downwardly within the tube, toe portion first. However, the operator, by grasping the welt or upper portions of the sock, pulls the sock downwardly around the exterior portion of the tube thus everting the sock to a wrong side out condition, as illustrated by FlG. 3b. Thereupon, the suction pump is deactivated and the upper open-toe portion of the sock is left extended above the top of the tube as shown by FlG. 3c. Subsequently, the operator either manually places the toe portion on points 14 or guides the toe portion into the alignment device 24 and conveyor mechanism 26 for automatically impaling the loops of the sock in the open-toe portion upon the points 14, depending upon the manner in which the looping machine is equipped. After being impaled by points 14, the socks are conveyed to the looping or sewing heads, FIG. 3e, for closing the toe portion. Upon completion of the looping or toe-closing operation, one of the cams 32 mounted on the continuously rotating platform or plate contacts switch 34, thus momentarily activating valve mechanism 40 and pneumatically everting a garment mounted on the form 30 directly beneath the open end of air pipe 42, as illustrated by FlG. 3f, by blowing the sock through the inside of the tube. FlG. 3g illustrates the sock, in its original right side out condition, being discharged into a receiver 50 after being blown through tube 30 and discharge tube 44. Obviously the two garment-tuming mechanisms could be used each independently of the other in those instances where desirable.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a conventional looping machine equipped with turning mechanisms as herein disclosed would result in great savings and production costs in the manufacture of hosiery and the like. Furthermore, while the invention has been described as applied to a well-known type of looping machine, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention has many different applications and that the machine and method herein described may otherwise be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. In combination with a looping machine including a rotatable means having a series of points projecting therefrom adapted to have socks impaled thereon and toe-closing means to which the points are successively presented for closing the toe portion of a sock, the improvement comprising: a plurality of sock-receiving forms, means for supporting and conveying said forms in a prescribed path of travel, each of said plurality of forms having a free end portion and an opening extending therethrough, said rotatable means and said sock-supporting and -conveying means being rotatable simultaneously, said toe-closing means being mounted in juxtaposition to the prescribed path of travel of said forms, and intermittently actuated means cooperable with each form for discharging a sock therefrom, said intermittently actuated means including means positioned in close proximity to and cooperable with the free end portions of said forms for forcing a sock therethrough.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharging means everts a sock as it is removed from a form.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1, further including means operatively associated with said forms for everting socks as they are placed upon said forms.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3, each of said sock-receiving forms comprising an elongated tubular member over which the sock is adapted to be drawn.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, said everting means comprising fluid means communicating with said tubular members creating a pressure differential therein for drawing a sock, toe portion first, into said tubular member before the sock is inverted by withdrawing the sock over and to the outside of said tubular member.

6. A machine as defined in claim 1, said plurality of sockreceiving forms comprising elongate, tubular members, said members being mounted in predetermined, spaced, serial arrangement for successive movement to said toe-closing means.

7. A machine as defined in claim 6, each of said members having an open end over which a sock is adapted to be drawn for subsequently presenting the toe portion to said toe-closing means, said discharging means comprising means adapted to communicate with each member for directing a sock through said member, toe portion first, to even the sock after the toe portion has been closed.

8. A method of looping and everting socks having an opentoe portion to be closed at one end thereof by looping comprising the steps of supporting a sock at the open-toe portion for displacement along a prescribed path of travel, supporting the other end of the sock on a sock-receiving form for movement along a prescribed path of travel similar to said toe portion, closing the toe portion while traveling in a prescribed path of travel, and everting the sock as it is removed from the form by applying a force to the exterior toe portion of said sock supported on the form to drive the sock axially therethrough.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sock is placed on the form by creating fluid currents within the form to draw a substantial portion of a sock therein, and everting the sock by drawing the sock exteriorally and axially of the form.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the toe portion of the sock is closed by impaling the sock upon a series of spaced points and feeding the form and sock thereon to a looping position for looping closed the toe portion of the sock.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the socks are everted by directing the looped sock through the form, toe portion first, to even the same. 

1. In combination with a looping machine including a rotatable means having a series of points projecting therefrom adapted to have socks impaled thereon and toe-closing means to which the points are successively presented for closing the toe portion of a sock, the improvement comprising: a plurality of sock-receiving forms, means for supporting and conveying said forms in a prescribed path of travel, each of said plurality of forms having a free end portion and an opening extending therethrough, said rotatable means and said sock-supporting and -conveying means being rotatable simultaneously, said toe-closing means being mounted in juxtaposition to the prescribed path of travel of said forms, and intermittently actuated means cooperable with each form for discharging a sock therefrom, said intermittently actuated means including means positioned in close proximity to and cooperable with the free end portions of said forms for forcing a sock therethrough.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharging means everts a sock as it is removed from a form.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 1, further including means operatively associated with said forms for everting socks as they are placed upon said forms.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3, each of said sock-receiving forms comprising an elongated tubular member over which the sock is adapted to be drawn.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 4, said everting means comprising fluid means communicating with said tubular members creating a pressure differential therein for drawing a sock, toe portion first, into said tubular member before the sock is inverted by withdrawing the sock over and to the outside of said tubular member.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 1, said plurality of sock-receiving forms comprising elongate, tubular members, said members being mounted in predetermined, spaced, serial arrangement for successive movement to said toe-closing means.
 7. A machine as defined in claim 6, each of said members having an open end over which a sock is adapted to be drawn for subsequently presenting the toe portion to said toe-closing means, said discharging means comprising means adapted to communicate with each member for directing a sock through said member, toe portion first, to evert the sock after the toe portion has been closed.
 8. A method of looping and everting socks having an open-toe portion to be closed at one end thereof by looping comprising the steps of supporting a sock at the open-toe portion for displacement along a prescribed path of travel, supporting the other end of the sock on a sock-receiving form for movement along a prescribed path of travel similar to said toe portion, closing the toe portion while traveling in a prescribed path of travel, and everting the sock as it is removed from the form by applying a force to the exterior toe portion of said sock supported on the form to drive the sock axially therethrough.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sock is placed on the form by creating fluid currents within the form to draw a substantial portion of a sock therein, and everting the sock by drawing the sock exteriorally and axially of the form.
 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the toe portion of the sock is closed by impaling the sock upon a series of spaced points and feeding the form and sock thereon to a looping position for looping closed the toe portion of the sock.
 11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the socks are everted by directing the looped sock through the form, toe portion first, to evert the same. 